Coupling.



PATENTED JUNE 9, 19.03.

G. KREBS. VGOUPLINGrl APPLICATION IILED un. 1, 1903.,

N0 MODEL.

said platform being shown in section.

UNITED STATES Patented June 9, 19037.

PATENT OFFICE.-

GEORGE KREBS, OF DURANT, IOVA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 730,777, dated June 9, 1903.

Application filed April 7.1903. Serial No. 151,523. (No model.)

To 1J/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE KREBS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Durant, in the county of Cedar and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improveof the coupler, and a link-engaging mechanism carried by the coupler.

It further consists, in a coupling mechanism, of a suitable draw-head, a link-engaging mechanism within the draw-head, a yoke for pivotally supporting the draw-head, the said yoke engaging the draw-head vforward of the link-engaging mechanism, and means for operating the link-engaging mechanism.

It also consists in certain other novel constructions,combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved coupler applied to the platform of a traction-engine, the Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section through the draw-head of the coupler. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through said draw-head, the trunnions or pivoting-studs being shown in elevation.

The coupler forming the subject-matter of this invention is suitable for use on cars, traction-engines, and other kinds of vehicles; but I have illustrated the same as applied to a traction-'engine for use, upon which it isv especially well adapted. The coupler comprises a draw-head l, formed with a cavity or recess for receiving the end of a link for connecting the traction-engine with another vehicle. approximately rectangular for a considerable portion of its length and isentered at the top by a passage or slot 2, formed in the ripper rear portions of the draw-head. Alink hook The cavity or recess of the coupler is or catch 3 is pivotally mounted in this slot, and its jaw 4 projects into the recess or cavity of the draw-head. This hooked jaw is carried by a shaft 5, journaled in the rear end of the draw-head. One end of the shaft projects beyond the side of the draw-head and carries an operating arm or lever 6. The arm is providedwith a cable 7, which passes upwardly over a guiding-pulley 8, mounted on the platform 9 of the traction-engine 10, the said cable extending thence to a bellcrank foot-lever l1, mounted in a suitable bracket upon the platform Q. The foot-engaging portion 12 of this lever projects upwardly over the platform in a position for engagement by the foot of the operator of the device. The jaw l is normally depressed by means of a spring 13, which is secured at one endof the draw-head and at thel other.

end to a short arm 14, projecting upwardly from the lever 6. When the foot is placed upon the lever l1, the cable will be caused to pull the arm or lever 6 upwardly, and thus raise the jaw 4 out of the cavity or recess of the coupler. When the foot is removed from said lever, the spring 13 will return the hooked jaw to its normal depressed position.

`The oor ofl the draw-head cavity is preferably provided with a raised portion l5, which will lift a link or connecting-piece, such as 1G, which may be inserted in the draw-head, so that the jaw 4 will engage the recess or aperture 17 in such link in a thorough manner.

The mounting of the dra-w-head forms an important feature of the invention. The draw-head is provided near its front end with supporting-trunnions, as I8 and l9,which project in a vertical position from the upper and lower surface of the draw-head, as clearly shown in'Fig's. 1 and 3. These trunnions find bearings in the outer ends of the arms of a yoke 20. The yoke 20is secured at 2l byits upper arm to the vehicle carrying the coupler. The yoke is preferably braced, as by a bracebar 22, from any portion of the traction-engine l0. In the illustration of the invention the brace-rod 22 is bolted directly to the yoke structure at one end, the arms of said yoke being secured to its upper and lower surface, while the other end of the said brace is secured to a portion of the traction-engine. The outer end of the cavity in the draw-head is IOO tlared,as is usual in the formation of couplers,

, so. that the link or connecting member is easily introduced into said draw-head.

The pivotal mounting of the draw-head in the yoke, as described and shown, and the arrangement of the trunnions forward of the locking-jaw near the outer end of the coupler greatly facilitate theintroduction of the coupler-link or connecting-piece. If the connecting member ot' a vehicle which is to be coupled to the engine approaches the drawhead at an angle, the possibility of forcing the draw-head to one end and prevent a proper coupling is rendered improbable, since said cou pling member is not able to move the drawhead out of the Way as easily as if the trunnions were near the rear end of the draw-- head. The draw-head is normally kept in proper alinement with the yoke 2O by means ot' a spring 23, which is secured to the drawhead to therear of the trunnions atone end, while its otherend extends rearwardly to the yoke 20, Where itis properly fastened. The tension of the spring 23 thus tends to hold under yielding pressure the draw-head in proper position. The placing of the trunnions at this point upon the coupler also makes a strong structure ofthe device, since the studs are placed at a point Where the Walls of the d raw-head are comparatively thick and of corresponding strength.

It will be evident, of course, that while I have described this coupler as attached lo traction-engines it maybe used upon railwaycars or other vehicles Without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

The parts of the structure are simple in structure and not likely to get out of order easily.

The pivotal mounting of the drawhead above described greatly facilitates the coupling operation and the insertion of connecting-links or other means in the flaring mouth of the draw-head.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A coupler comprising a draw-head, a yoke forming a'draW-bar and pivotally supporting the draw-head, the said yoke engaging the head at points near its outer end, substantially as described.

2. A coupler comprising a draw-head, trunnions projecting therefrom, a draw-bar having a bifurcated end for pivotally supporting the said draW-head-the forward ends of the said draw-bar engaging the said trunnions, a coupler comprising a draw-bar havingabifu rcated end portion for receiving a draw-head, a draw-head pivotally mounted vvithin said bifurcated portion, the pivot-points of said draw-head being located near the outer end ofthe draw-head, and means within the drawhead to the rear of said pivotal points for securing coupling means within said head, substantially as described.

3. A coupler comprising a draw head formed with a recess for receiving coupling means,a1ockingjaw mounted therein,a frame or yoke supporting the said draw-head and pivotally engaging the same at points forward of the said locking-jaw, substantially as described.

4. A coupler comprising a drawbar,a drawhead pivotally mounted therein, trunnions projecting in a vertical direction from said draw-head and engaging said draw-bar, said tru nnions being located close to themouth of the draw-head, substantially as described.

5. A coupler comprising a draw-head, a draw-bar pivotally holding the same in position, a locking-bar within the draw-head for engaging coupling means, a lever for operating the same, a cable connected with said lever and a foot-lever for actuating said cable and raising the locking-jaw when it is necessary to uncouple the parts, substantially as described.

6. A coupler comprising a draw-bar having an upper and lower arm for projecting above and below the draW- head of the coupler, trunnions projecting from the upper and lower surface of the draw-head for engaging said arms, the trunnions being located close to the outer end of the d raw-head for preventing the draw-head from being easily moved to one side in the coupling operation, substantially as described.

'7. A coupler comprising a draw-head having a recess therein and a slot entering the recess from the upper rear end of the drawhead, a pivoted jaw mounted in said slot, a shaft carrying the same and projecting to one side nof the draw-head, an arm or lever secured thereto, a cable for operating said lever, a bell-crank for actuating the cable, a second arm projecting from the first arm or lever, and a spring secured to the coupler at one end and to the said arm at the other for normally holding the coupling-jaw in its depressed position, substantially as described.

S. A coupler comprising a draw-head, a yoke pivotally engaging the same at its forward end, a spring secured tothe draw-head in the rear of said pivotal engagement and connected with the draw-bar for holding the draw-head in proper alinement, and a drawbar pivotally supporting the said draw-head, substantially as described.

In testimony' whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE KnEcs.

Witnesses:

HENRY Voss, M. C. KREBS. 

